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Roddy McDowall, at left, with Stephen Collins in the 1982-1983 drama "Tales of the Gold Monkey". Source: https://themindreels.com/2014/05/08/tales-of-the-gold-monkey-19821983-the-late-of-sarah-white-the-sultan-of-swat/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Roddy McDowall had a storied acting career that lasted seven decades. However, I remember him best for two roles literally worlds apart – “The Planet of the Apes” movies set in a dystopic future, and “Tales of the Gold Monkey”, set in the Pacific during the Second World War.
Being as prolific as he was, there were many other roles along the way.
Although he died back in 1998, it was his birthday yesterday, offering a good chance to look back to an actor who brought characters as diverse as Apes Cornelius and Caesar and bar owner Bon Chance Louie.
In the movies
Roddy McDowall’s film career dates back to 1938, with his first role in “Murder in the Family”. He was in a larger number of films in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, including “The Longest Day”; “The Greatest Story Ever Told’; “That Darn Cat!”; and so much more.
He was also in “Cleopatra”, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in an Motion Picture;
Roddy McDowall’s film career dates back to 1938, with his first role in “Murder in the Family”. He was in a larger number of films in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, including “The Longest Day”; “The Greatest Story Ever Told’; “That Darn Cat!”; and so much more.
He was also in “Cleopatra”, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in an Motion Picture;
Then, in 1968, he appeared in “The Planet of the Apes” as the ape Cornelius. Charlton Heston plays an astronaut who is hurtled through time and space, landing on a planet where apes reign supreme. Humans are slaves, to the point some cannot speak. In the big reveal at the end of the movie, we learn Heston has not been transported to another planet, but is on the Earth of the future. He discovers this when he sees the Statute of Liberty half buried by sand and time.
Roddy McDowall was excellent as Cornelius. He would not appear in the sequel to “The Planet of the Apes”, but was in the next three movies – “Escape from the Planet of the Apes” in 1971 as Cornelius; “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes” in 1972 as Cornelius’ son Caesar; and “Battle for the Planet of the Apes” in 1973.
It was in the 1970s, that I saw McDowall in a lot more movies, such as “Bedknobs and Broomsticks”; “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean”; “The Poseidon Adventure”; “Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry”; “Funny Lady”; “The Cat from Outer Space”; “The Thief of Baghdad”; and “Scavenger Hunt”.
He also provided the voice for the robot V.I.N.C.E.N.T. in Disney’s “The Black Hole”, a terrifying science fiction story that still kind of bothers me.
TV times
Roddy McDowall was also in a lot of TV shows starting in 1951 with “Family Theatre”. He would go on to have roles in “The Twilight Zone”; “Naked City”; “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour”; “Combat!”: “Ben Casey’; “Batman’; “The Invaders”; “It Takes a Thief”; “Night Gallery”; “Columbo”; “The Rookies”; “Mission: Impossible”; “Barnaby Jones”; “McMillan and Wife”; “Ellery Queen”; “The Feather and Father Gang”; “Wonder Woman”; “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”; “Fantasy Island”; “Hart to Hart”; “The Love Boat”; provided the voice of Chuck the Robot in “Mork and Mindy”; and was in a number of television movies.
He also won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Series for “Our American Heritage”; and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for “Arrest and Trial”.
Roddy McDowall was also in a lot of TV shows starting in 1951 with “Family Theatre”. He would go on to have roles in “The Twilight Zone”; “Naked City”; “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour”; “Combat!”: “Ben Casey’; “Batman’; “The Invaders”; “It Takes a Thief”; “Night Gallery”; “Columbo”; “The Rookies”; “Mission: Impossible”; “Barnaby Jones”; “McMillan and Wife”; “Ellery Queen”; “The Feather and Father Gang”; “Wonder Woman”; “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”; “Fantasy Island”; “Hart to Hart”; “The Love Boat”; provided the voice of Chuck the Robot in “Mork and Mindy”; and was in a number of television movies.
He also won an Emmy for Outstanding Performance in a Supporting Role by an Actor or Actress in a Series for “Our American Heritage”; and was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for “Arrest and Trial”.
McDowall put on the ape make-up again for 14 episodes of “Planet of the Apes”, a TV spin-off of the movies. He was also the villain in “The Fantastic journey”, an intriguing science fiction show about a family transported to an island in an alternate reality. I recall seeing the pilot of “The Fantastic journey”, but it fell off the schedule shortly after.
In 1960 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Dawn of the decade
Roddy McDowall was already a prolific actor in both film and TV when the 1980s started.
Roddy McDowall was already a prolific actor in both film and TV when the 1980s started.
That is when I remember him best.
Scary
McDowall was in “Fright Night” in 1985. He portrays an actor who plays a vampire hunter on television, only to be enlisted by teenagers needing a real-life vampire hunter. I saw it one Friday night at a house party in Coaldale in the Fall of 1986, when I was in Grade 12. I remember how great McDowall was as someone out of his element, winging and faking it until he made it. There was also a sequel in 1988 called “Fright Night 2”.
McDowall was in “Fright Night” in 1985. He portrays an actor who plays a vampire hunter on television, only to be enlisted by teenagers needing a real-life vampire hunter. I saw it one Friday night at a house party in Coaldale in the Fall of 1986, when I was in Grade 12. I remember how great McDowall was as someone out of his element, winging and faking it until he made it. There was also a sequel in 1988 called “Fright Night 2”.
He was also in movies such as “Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen”; “Evil Under the Sun”, based on an Agatha Christie Hercule Poirot story; “Class of 1984”; “Dead of Winter”; “Overboard”; “Doin’ Time on Planet Earth”; “The Big Picture”; and “Cutting Class”.
Adventurous
“Tales of the Gold Monkey” debuted in the Fall of 1982. It featured Jake Cutter, a pilot played by Stephen Collins, who ran an air cargo delivery service in 1936 on the fictitious South Seas island of Bora Gora.
“Tales of the Gold Monkey” debuted in the Fall of 1982. It featured Jake Cutter, a pilot played by Stephen Collins, who ran an air cargo delivery service in 1936 on the fictitious South Seas island of Bora Gora.
Cutter hangs out at an establishment called the “Monkey Bar”, owned and operated by Bon Chance Louie. He was played by Ron Moody in the pilot, but Roddy McDowall in the series. He was good as a man constantly trying to navigate the waters of Nazi spies, Japanese interests, espionage and so much more in the time preceding the Second World War. Sadly, “Tales of the Gold Monkey”, despite heavy promotion and good reviews, just lasted the 1982-1983 season for a total of 22 episodes.
McDowall had opened the decade with a role in the miniseries “The Martian Chronicles” in 1980. He also did two episodes of “Fantasy Island” as Mephistopheles, or the devil. He was chilling in his quest to corrupt Mr. Rourke and turn Fantasy Island into a den of sin and evil.
He was also in the television miniseries “Hollywood Wives” in 1985, a big television event that went behind the scenes to look at the drama and intrigue of the film industry. That same year he was in another television event, the movie “Alice in Wonderland” as the March Hare.
McDowall closed out the decade with some TV movies and guest spots in “Murder, She Wrote” and “Matlock”.
The years after
Roddy McDowall kept on working until his death in 1998. He was in a number of films such as “Going Under”; “Double Trouble”; “The Grass Harp”; “The Alien Within”; “It’s My Party”; and more.
Roddy McDowall kept on working until his death in 1998. He was in a number of films such as “Going Under”; “Double Trouble”; “The Grass Harp”; “The Alien Within”; “It’s My Party”; and more.
On television I remember him best in an episode of “Quantum Leap” in 1992. Sam Beckett ends up in a leap where he inadvertently erases his guide Al. He is replaced by Edward St. John V momentarily, until Sam can make things right. Edward St. John V is played by Roddy McDowall.
It was kind of fitting because “Quantum Leap” creator Donald Bellisario had a stable of actors who would keep cropping up in various shows he created. Bellisario created “Tales of the Gold Monkey”, so it was no surprise the man who played Bon Chance Louis appeared in “Quantum Leap” too.
McDowall also appeared in the miniseries “The Inconvenient Woman”; the TV movie “Hart to Hart: Home is Where the Heart is”; an episode of “Tracey Takes On…”; some TV movies; and he did a lot of voice work in productions such as “Darkwing Duck”; “Batman: The Animated Series”; “Red Planet’; “Gargoyles”; “Duckman”; “Pinky and the Brain”; and more.
Roddy McDowall was a victim of lung cancer which took his life on October 3, 1998.
He was 70.
Parting thoughts
Roddy McDowall was another one of those prolific actors who made up the tapestry of film and television for seven decades. By the time the 1980s dawned, he was an established actor. He had that characteristic British stiff upper lip that fit Bon Chance Louie as the proprietor of the "Monkey Bar".
Roddy McDowall was another one of those prolific actors who made up the tapestry of film and television for seven decades. By the time the 1980s dawned, he was an established actor. He had that characteristic British stiff upper lip that fit Bon Chance Louie as the proprietor of the "Monkey Bar".
It was also perfect to turn on its ear in movies such as “Fright Night”.
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